Yet, the willingness of those early members of LQG to discuss their work set the tone for the organization today. “The London Quant Group, above all, is a community where people come together to listen to really interesting talks, delivered by very generous and experienced researchers whom they can question and interact with before and after their talk.”
Perhaps the most important aspect of the LQG is that the group prides itself on being a sales-free environment. “People come to an LQG event and leave their company hat outside. They come in as quants, researchers, and academics to discuss whatever topic interests them.”
Empowering quants with a platform and data
While the LQG provides the quant community with a venue to meet face-to-face, the backbone of quantitative analysis lies in robust data and computing power. Arthur Orts, Head of Portfolio Analytics and Risk Specialist Sales for Southern Europe, sees Bloomberg’s involvement with the LQG as a natural fit.
“Historically, Bloomberg has been the essential communication platform for financial professionals. What began as a bond trading platform in the ’80s has evolved into today’s premier hub for data, pricing, and analytics for a finance professional. With its state-of-the-art data and computational resources, Bloomberg empowers quants to conduct research and share ideas seamlessly. In this way, it can be seen as the technological partner of LQG, where community and cutting-edge technology intersect.” Ort says.
Orts sees an added advantage to Bloomberg’s involvement with the LQG as it provides a window into the future needs of the quant community and how technology will need to change to make those visions a reality. “Having this knowledge allows Bloomberg to accelerate our research, knowing what LQG members will expect our platform to deliver.”
Maintaining the LQG’s Culture
Many of the topics discussed in LQG meetings often spark spirited debate. How does the group’s leadership facilitate productive discussions and manage differing viewpoints and strongly held opinions?
Goodwin views his training as a geographer, not a Ph.D. physicist or mathematician, as an asset. “If there is an idiotic question, to be honest, it is typically me who asked it. There are some things in mathematics I just don’t get,” he says. “I’m not ashamed to say I don’t understand.”
He adds that established members also pave the way for the new members to raise their hand. “People aren’t made to feel stupid. Once a couple of elders in the community have asked penetrating questions, younger members get the idea that they can do so, too. And that’s really important.”
Bloomberg and LQG: Building community
Throughout its evolution, Bloomberg technology has connected global finance. In that sense, Bloomberg is a community builder. In fact, the initial role of the Bloomberg Terminal was to connect the finance community and provide news, price quotes, and messaging.
Just as the Bloomberg Terminal and BQuant provides the digital platform and data to support the global finance community, the LQG provides a physical location and an intellectual hub for the quant community. By fostering a community and the exchange of cutting-edge ideas, Bloomberg and the LQG can showcase the latest thinking around critically important topics and nurture the next generation of quantitative finance professionals. Furthermore, the LQG partnership allows Bloomberg to gather insight to evolve its technology, BQuant, and expand the breadth and depth of the already considerable volume of complex data available to the quant community.
“We are putting people together and enhancing the quality of communication inside the financial industry,” Goodwin says. Goodwin adds that LQG events differ from typical finance meetings in one crucial aspect. “No matter your background, LQG meetings will always keep your attention, and they are always fun.”
Bloomberg
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